Updates from Betfair, Supergroup and easyJet
More optimism for the FTSE 100 yesterday, up more than 44 points, or 0.65%, to 6,873.5. Close to a 14-year high. Ashtead Group was the biggest climber, up 3.6% to 1022p with CRH and Barclays following, up 3.43% (to 1446p) and 2.59% (to 228.10p) respectively. However there was a 5.79% fall for Hargreaves Lansdown, reducing the value of shares to 1073p as investors worried about full-year profits falling short.
Meanwhile little change for the Dow Jones, up just 10 points to 17,078.2 though tech stocks, including Apple, came under pressure.
We start with a quick trip to the bookies. Betfair's revenues climb 30% in the last quarter driven by the World Cup. World Cup revenue came in at £15.9 million. Revenue excluding the World Cup climbs 12%, including 17% growth in sustainable markets.
EBITDA is up 39% to £34.5 million while mobile revenue climb 162% with the channel contributing 70% to Sportsbook revenues. Customer acquisition climbs 181% and the number of active customers lifts 48% claims Betfair.
"We are focused," says boss Breon Corcoran, "on a number of challenges, including our early stage investments in New Jersey online casino and Italy, and uncertainty remains in a number of unregulated markets."
Next, retailer SuperGroup. Q1 sees double-digit sales growth across all its main channels resulting in total sales being upped 15.9% to £87m says the company. Total Retail sales in the period were up 13.6% at £60.4m.
However like-for-like sales in the quarter were down 3.7% against 8.5% from the first quarter last year. Like-for-like performance was affected shortages of key spring summer lines and a highly competitive market place says the company.
"The order book," says boss Julian Dunkerton, "for autumn/winter 2014/15 is in line with our expectations and continues to demonstrate the global appeal of the brand."
Lastly, easyJet has released passenger stats for August. In total, passenger numbers rise 8.4% to 6,612,075 while the load factor climbs 1.4pp. On a rolling basis the passenger numbers climb 6.4% to 64,339,243.
In July easyJet saw an 8% climb in passenger traffic, beating Ryanair. The company has been boosted by allocated seating, helping draw in additional business class customers.
easyJet had its Buy rating re-stated by Numis Securities recently as well as Deutsche Bank.
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